Who is Alessandro Buongiorno? Torino’s defensive colossus wanted by Milan, Man Utd & Bayern

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 28 Jan 2024 19:08 GMT
• 5 min read

Torino star Alessandro Buongiorno has emerged as one of the best defenders in Serie A over the last year, and is now being heavily linked to some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

The likes of Milan, Napoli and Manchester United are all reported to want the giant Torino defender.

So what do we know about Buongiorno?

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What club does Alessandro Buongiorno play for?

Buongiorno plays for Torino in the Italian Serie A.

What position does Buongiorno play in?

Buongiorno is central defender. He is capable of playing in a back three or to the left of a two-man centre back partnership in a back four.

How good is Alessandro Buongiorno?

Buongiorno was born in Turin and came through the youth system at local club Torino.

He was highly rated as a teenager and made his debut for Torino as an 18-year-old. He also was a regular in Italy’s youth system, playing for Italy’s Under-18, Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 sides.

After a couple of loan moves to Carpi and Trapani in Serie B, Buongiorno slowly built up his experience and skills before really starting to develop after the appointment of Ivan Juric as coach of Torino in 2021.

Juric has been renowned for developing a number of promising central defenders in recent years, including Gleison Bremer (now at Juventus), Perr Schuurs and Marash Kumbulla. Buongiorno is just the latest in this line.

It was during the 2022-23 season that Buongiorno really began to explode in Juric’s back three. He played a key role for a Granata side who may have finished 10th but actually had the fifth best defensive record in the division.

The left-footed Buongiorno is capable of playing in the middle of the back three - as he has done since a serious injury to Schuurs - or on the left of the trio. He can also play in a back four, as he has done for the Italy national team.

In the 2023-24 season, Buongiorno has undoubtedly been one of the best defenders in Serie A. He ranks among the best players for many of the most important defensive metrics.

The 24-year-old reads the game superbly, as demonstrated by the fact he has made the most interceptions in Serie A this term - averaging 2.5 interceptions per game. He is joint-sixth in Serie A for successful tackles, joint-tenth for clearances.

Standing at 6ft 4in, Buongiorno is unsurprisingly outstanding in the air. He averages three aerial challenges won per game, which makes him the joint-seventh best in Serie A and the third best among all defenders.

He is a big weapon from set-pieces - both in his own box and the opposition area. He has three goals this season in Serie A.

Buongiorno is also very aggressive with how he plays. He is not scared to get stuck in, put his body on the line or to make a professional or cynical foul for the good of his team. He has made more fouls than anyone in Serie A, averaging 2.6 fouls per game. He also has four yellow cards.

Thanks to Buongiorno, Torino have again had one of the best backlines in Italy this season. They have conceded only 19 goals in 21 games, which is the third best record in Serie A. Only Inter and Juventus have conceded fewer goals.

Buongiorno’s form for Torino has seen him break into the Italy national team setup. He got his first call-up by Roberto Mancini for the first Euro 2024 qualifiers in March 2023. Mancini gave him his debut in the 3-2 win over the Netherlands in June 2023 in the UEFA Nations League.

But the giant defender’s reputation really soared when he was chosen to start by Mancini’s successor Luciano Spalletti in a crucial Euros qualifier against Ukraine in November. Italy needed to avoid defeat to qualify for the finals, while a loss would have seen them go to a playoff.

Buongiorno, in only his second game for the Azzurri, played a brilliant match as Italy got the 0-0 draw they needed to qualify for Euro 2024.

What clubs are interested in Alessandro Buongiorno?

Buongiorno is wanted by a host of Europe’s biggest clubs in 2024.

AC Milan are the favourites to buy Buongiorno, and opened up discussions with Torino and the player’s entourage in January 2024. However, a transfer is unlikely to be done this month.

A move away from Torino in the summer appears more likely. FootballTransfers exclusively revealed that Man Utd are interested in signing Buongiorno.

Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Chelsea, Napoli and Nottingham Fores have all been linked with Buongiorno, also.

Torino value Buongiorno at €40 million at least.

Atalanta unsuccessfully tried to sign Buongiorno in the summer of 2023.

Buongiorno’s contract expires in June 2028.

How old is Alessandro Buongiorno?

Buongiorno is 24 years old. He was born on 6 June 1999.